The opportunity comes in one of two VIP packages, with a starting price of $1,000.

Houston has hosted the men's and women's championships for the past seven and five years, respectively, as part of the Aramco Houston Half Marathon. But organizers decided to stage them a day earlier in 2011 so they can test their plans for 2012, when Houston will host the men's and women's Olympic trials on the Saturday before the Chevron Houston Marathon and half marathon.

While 150 athletes are expected for the half marathon championships on Jan. 29, about 250 will compete at the trials. Allowing 100 more people on the 8-mile loop course will more accurately reflect the trials, said Wade Morehouse, the marathon's managing director.

Morehouse said the packages, which will be available at two levels, will not only allow the public to experience an elite-caliber event, but will also help cover the costs of staging the trials.

"This is a creative way to do it — to generate funds, to test the event. Plus we create some unique opportunities for the public," he said. "It will be a great weekend experience."

The $1,000 package includes:

—An entry to the U.S. Half Marathon Championship, which will be run on a different course than Sunday's half marathon;

—A guaranteed entry for either the next day's marathon or half marathon, transferable to another person;

—Two VIP bleacher passes on both days;

—Two tickets to a meet-and-greet elite athlete luncheon Jan. 28.

Spend another $500, and you'll get that package plus a guaranteed entry into one of the 2012 races, two bleacher tickets for those events, two bleacher tickets for the 2012 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, one ticket to the elite athlete luncheon the preceding Friday and a limited-edition U.S. Olympic Trials Nike T-shirt.

The packages will be available during lottery registration for the Jan. 30 Chevron Houston Marathon and Aramco Houston Half Marathon, which opens at 6 a.m. Tuesday and continues until 11:59 p.m. Aug. 12. Runners must be able to complete a half marathon within 2.5 hours to participate.